Kitchen apparatus combination



Nqv. 19, 1957 F. D. LOW

KITCHEN APPARATUS COMBINATION.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1956 m m H mm HOT WAT El? SUPPL YINVENTOR.

Fran/1'0 Low j g, @Wn/ NOV. 19, F, D, ow

xrrcamu APPARATUS comsmA rIoN 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed llay 14, 1956 FIG 4ll FJ INVENTORQ Fran/r B Low Jm W M 3 W Nov. 19, 1957 F. D. Low

KITCHEN APPARATUS COMBINATION Filed lay 14. 1956 s sheets-sheet 3PROGRAMVCONTROLLER l W Rm aw N m 88: m5 M kwt 0H. V IN a 9.5% R A Q m mSha 5t w a H A 5&3 $95 5 M A 3 QM A Mum m W. M EL A E 3a mm U m ww fiGEE A Y Em w, & $5 J M w 5% Q M g M, 2 H Am m 3 kim 3 km $31 a qm A A H6% QM l1 3v g &m as A 3 A w M u \m $5 9 EE N g NW & j Mm EMNI R v 55% aL 3% a Em w Em R m v 3 Q Na in #5 $8 \fi ESE EEG bmafis h @m I cm A w Am m\.\ 3% R G a, @605 Ewmmwfi ATTYS'.

United States Patent KITCHEN APPARATUS CONIBINATION Frank D. Low, LaGrange Park, Ill., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporationof New York Application May 14, 1956, Serial No. 584,487

14 Claims. (Cl. 134-57) The present invention relates to a kitchenapparatus combination, including a sink and a dishwasher and a foodwaste disposer, and more particularly to control circuits for thedishwasher and disposer of the combination.

A kitchen counterline conventionally comprises a sink provided with acommunicating food waste disposer disposed therebelow, an adjacentdishwasher provided with a dish-receiving vat, independent water supplyconnections to the sink and to the dishwasher vat, independent drainconnections from the disposer and from the dishwasher vat, andindependent control circuits for the disposer and for the dishwasher.Since a kitchen normally comprises a single drain pipe extending to theexterior, the drain plumbing connections from the disposer and from thedishwashing vat are frequently rather extensive and expensive,particularly where the sink and the dishwasher in the kitchencounterline are installed in a location remote from the existing drainpipe in the kitchen.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to providean improved kitchen apparatus combination of the character described,wherein it is practical to drain the dishwasher vat directly into thedisposer and to drain the disposer directly into the drain pipe, withoutdanger of flooding water from the disposer back into the communicatingsink incident to the drain operation of the dishwasher, thereby tosimplify and to render less expensive the total drain connectionsrequired.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a kitchen apparatuscombination of the character described an improved circuit controlarrangement so that the draining of water from the dishwasher vat intothe disposer is effective to bring about operation of the disposer, sothat any food waste accumulated therein is comminuted and positivelydischarged therefrom, along with the drain water from the dishwashervat, into the connected drain pipe.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a kitchen apparatuscombination of the character described, an improved control circuitarrangement for controlling simultaneously the draining operation of thedishwasher and the operation of the disposer, so that any food wasteaccumulated therein is comminuted and positively discharged therefrom,along with the drain water from the dishwasher vat, into the drain pipeconnected to the disposer, thereby positively to prevent flooding ofwater and food waste from the disposer back into the communicating sinkincident to the drain operation of the dishwasher.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a kitchen apparatuscombination of the character described, an improved control circuitarrangement so that the normal operation of the disposer incident to.the draining operation of the dishwasher is positively prevented in theevent the normal stopper-valve mechanism arranged in the throat betweenthe sink and the disposer occupiesits removed position, as is necessarywhen the housewife deposits food waste therethrough into the disposer,thereby to prevent operation of the disposer while the housewife isengaged in depositing food waste thereinto.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a kitchen apparatuscombination of the character described, an improved control circuit foroperating the disposer at the will of the housewife and independently ofthe operation of the dishwasher, and an improved control circuit foroperating the dishwasher, whereby there is no interference between thecontrol circuits named in the various combinations of possible controlsof the disposer and of the dishwasher.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangementof the elements of the kitchen apparatus combination and of the elementsof the control circuits therefor, whereby the above-outlined andadditional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by reference to the following specification taken inconnection with the tlCCOl'lh panying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a kitchen apparatus,combination, including a sink, and a food waste disposer and adishwasher, and embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the manually operablecontrol dial that is incorporated in the,

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the control circuits for thedishwasher and for the disposer.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the kitchen apparatus combination10 there illustrated, and embodying the features of the presentinvention, is in the form of a kitchen counterline including asubstantially horizontally arranged counter top 11, supported by twoadjacent upstanding cabinets 12 and 13 disposed therebelow, andterminating in an upstanding backsplash 14'. arranged at the rear edgethereof. The left-hand section of the counter top 11 carries a sink 15depending therefrom into the lefthand cabinet 12 disposed therebelow andcommunicating through an aligned opening provided therein; the bottomwall of the sink 15 carries a food waste disposer 16 depending therefromand housed within the cabinet 12; and the cabinet 12 is provided with anopen front that is normally closed by a pair of upstanding cooperatingfront doors 17 respectively mounted adjacent to the opposite sidesthereoffor swinging movements into open and closed positions. Theright-hand cabinet 13 houses a dishwasher 18 including an upstandingdish receiving vat 19 provided with an upstanding front opening and acooperating front door 2%, also arranged in an aligned front openingprovided in a front wall 21 of the cabinet 13, the front door 20 beingmounted adjacent the lower edge thereof for pivotal movements between asubstantially vertical closed position and a substantially horizontalopen position.

Accordingly, the dishwasher 13 is of the frontcpening type and may be ofthe general construction and arrangement of that disclosedin U. S.Patent No. 2,657,695, granted on November 3, 1953 to Forrest A. Walker;whereby a sump is formed in the central portion of the Patented Nov. 19,1957 bottom wall of the vat 19 in which an impeller 22 is arranged androtated by a cooperating drive motor 23 disposed therebelow and carriedby the bottom wall of the vat 19. An electric heating unit 24 isoperatively associated with the impeller 22; and a drain conduit 25communicates with the sump formed in the bottom wall of the vat 19. Aspray device 26 is arranged in the u per portion of the vat 19substantially centrally of the top wall thereof and carried thereby:which spray device 26 communicates with an inlet conduit 27 in whichthere is arranged an inlet valve 28 provided with an operating solenoid28a. The inlet valve 28 is normally biased into its closed position andis operated into its open position upon energization of the solenoid28a. Also, the dishwasher 18 com rises a drain ump 29 provided with anintake ort communicating with the drain conduit 25 and a discharge portcommunicating with an upstanding discharge conduit 30, the drain pump 29being provided with n o er t ng motor 31. Fur her. the dishwasher 18comprises a me suring c il or relav 32. that is employed for a ur osemore fnllv ex lained herein-after. as well as a program controller 33that is provided with a manually rotatable control di l 34 carried bythe front wall 21 adiacent to the upper left-hand corner of the cabinet13. Also, a pilot lam 35 is o eratively associated with the manual dial34 and visible from the exterior through a cooperating hole provided inthe front wall 21. Moreover, a door switch 36 is incor orated in thedishwasher 18 and controlled by the osition of the front door 20, thedoor switch 36 being o erated into its respective closed and o enpositions when the front door 20 is oper ted into its corres ondingclosed and open positions. As i lustrated in Fig. 2. the dial 34 carriesthe indicia off and on ha coo erates with an index marker 34a that iscarr ed by the front wall 21 of the cabinet 13.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the program controller 33 further com rises arotatably mounted operating shaft 37 connected to the manual dial 34 andcarrying seven insulating cams C1 to C7, inclusive, that respectivelycooperate with seven sets of switch springs S1 to S7, inclusi e. Alsothe program controller 33 comprises a timer motor 38 of the synchronoustype and that is provided with an operating shaft 39 connected viareduction gearing 40 and a friction clutch 41 to the operating shaft 37.Tn the arrangement, the manual dial 34 may be ro ated in the clockwisedirection from its off position into its on position etfectingcorresponding rotation of the operating shaft 37 by virtue of theprovision of the friction clutch 41; whereby operation of the timermotor 38 is initiated so that the operating shaft 37 is rotated furtherin the clockwise direction by the operating shaft 39 of the timer motor38 through the reduction gearing 40 and the friction clutch 41 so as torestore the manual dial 34 back into its off position. Also, asillustrated in Fig. 6, the measuring coil or relay 32 is of the marginaltype and is provided with a bridging member 32a, controlling anassociated pair of contacts, for a purpose more fully explainedhereinafter.

Again referring to Fig. 1, the counter top 11 carries a faucet 42disposed adjacent to the rear of the sink 15 and forwardly of thebacksplash 14 and provided with a hot water valve 43 and a cold watervalve 44, as well as a discharge spout 45 disposed over the sink 15. Inthe kitchen, there is arranged a hot water supply pipe 46, a cold Watersupply pipe 47, and a drain pipe 48. The hot water supply pipe 46 isconnected both to the hot water valve 43 of the faucet 42 and to theinlet conduit 27 of the dishwasher 18; while the cold water supply pipe47 is connected to the cold water valve 44 of the faucet 42. Alsoarranged in the connection between the cold water supply pipe 47 and thecold water valve 44 of the faucet 42 is a faucet flow switch 49 thatcomprises, as shown in Fig. 6, a bridging member 50 controlling anassociated pair of contacts, as well as a resilient bellows 51communicating with the cold water supply pipe 47 and actuating thecontact bridging member 50. In the arrangement, the normal gaugepressure of the water in the cold water supply pipe 47 expands thebellows 51 moving the contact bridging member 50 into its open position;however, when the cold water valve 44 of the faucet 42 is opened, thepressure in the cold water supply pipe 47 is reduced, so that thebellows 51 contracts moving the contact bridging member 50 into itsclosed position.

Again referring to Fig. 1, a backsplash switch 52 is carried by the topof the backsplash 14 adjacent to the upper left-hand side thereof; athroat switch 53 is arranged in the throat of the disposer 16; and apump flow control switch 54 is arranged in a side inlet provided in thedisposer 16; which switches 52, 53 and 54 are utilized for purposes morefully explained hereinafter.

The upstanding discharge pipe 38 extending from the discharge port ofthe drain pump 29 projects rearwardly and upwardly to a position behindthe central portion of the backsplash 14, and the extreme outer endthereof is disposed above and in spaced relation to a cooperating funnel55 arranged therebelow; whereby an air break is disposed between the endof the discharge pipe 30 and the funnel 55. In turn, the funnel 55communicates with a conduit 56 that is connected to the side inlet ofthe disposer 16, as explained more fully hereinafter. As illustrated inFig. 6, the pump flow switch 54 comprises a bridging member 57,controlling an associated pair of contacts, as well as a resilientbellows 58 communicating with the conduit 56 and actuating the contactbridging member 57. In the arrangement, the bellows 58 normally biasesthe contact bridging member 57 into its open position; however, inresponse to the flow of Water through the conduit 56 the bellows 58 isexpanded moving the contact bridging member 57 into its closed position.

Again referring to Fig. 1, the discharge outlet of the disposer 16 isconnected by a substantially U-shaped trap 59 to the drain pipe 48 thatextends exteriorly of the kitchen.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the disposer 16 essentially comprisesan upstanding substantially tubular casing, including cooperating lowerand upper sections 60 and 61. The upper casing section 61 terminates inan upstanding tubular throat 62 projecting into a drain opening 15aformed in the bottom wall of the sink 15' and carrying an outwardlydirected annular flange 63 overhanging the adjacent marginal edge of thedrain opening 15a. The disposer 16 is secured in place to the bottomwall of the sink 15 by an arrangement including an annular clamping ring64 carried by the lower portion of the tubular throat 62 and anintervening surrounding clamping collar 65 arranged above the clampingring 64 and below the marginal edge of the drain opening 15a formed inthe bottom wall of the sink 16. More particularly three substantiallyequally angularly spaced-apart set screws 66 are carried by the clampingring 64 and projecting upwardly into engagement with the clamping collar65 so as to urge the clamping collar 65 toward the annular flange 63with the marginal edge of the sink 15 surrounding the drain opening 15aarranged therebetween, along with a suitable gasket 67 disposed betweenthe upper surface of the clamping collar 65 and the lower marginal edgeof the sink 15 surrounding the drain opening 15a. Accordingly, a foodwaste receiving chamber 68 is defined in the upper casing section 61 andcommunicates through the tubular throat 62 with the interior of the sink15; and removably arranged within the tubular throat 62 is astoppervalve mechanism 69; whereby the interior of the chamber 68 isaccessible through the tubular throat 62 from the sink 15 when themechanism 69 occupies its removed position.

More particularly, the mechanism 69 comprises a substantially annularstopper or body portion 70 having a centrally disposed valve port 71formed therethrough, as

well as a centrally disposed valve element 72 cooperating with the valveport 71. The valve element 72 is carried upon the lower end of a rod 73that is mounted upon the stopper body 70 for reciprocatory movement, theupper end of the rod 73 carrying a handle 74 disposed in the tubularthroat 62 and readily accessible from within the sink 15. Thus it willbe understood, that by manipulating the handle 74, the valve element 72may be moved into respective open and closed positions with respect tothe valve port 71, when the stopper body 70 occupies its placed positionwithin the tubular throat 62. Also the lower end of the. tubular throat62 and the annular-marginal rim of the stopper body 70 carryinterengaging structure, indicated generally at 75, for the.

purpose of locking the stopper body 70 in place in the tubular throat 62when the mechanism 69 occupies its placed position. Further, the handle74 is provided with an arrow or index marker 76 that cooperates with theindicia remove and lock carried upon the top surface of the annularflange 63, as shown in Fig. 3; whereby the mechanism 69 is unlocked forremoval when the index marker 76 is rotated to cooperate with theindicia remove carried by the annular flange 63.

Now when the mechanism 69 occupies its placed position in the tubularthroat 62, the valve element 72 may be selectively operated into openand closed positions with respect to the valve port 71 by selectivereciprocation of the handle 74 to control the draining of water from thesink 15 into the chamber 68. Of course, it will be understood that it isnecessary to remove the mechanism 69 completely from the tubular throat62 in order to accommodate the deposit of waste food from the sink 15through the tubular throat 62 into the chamber 68.

As previously noted, the throat switch 53 is selectively operated by themechanism 69, and more particularly this arrangement includes arotatably mounted shaft 77 carried by a journal 78 secured in an openingprovided in the side wall of the casing section 61 just below the lowerend of the tubular throat 62; the outer end of the shaft 77 cooperateswith a plunger 79 carried by the throat switch 53; and the inner end ofthe shaft 77 carries a crank 80 that extends into cooperating relationwith a notch 81 provided in the annular flange carried by the stopperbody 70 of the mechanism 69. In the arrangement, when the mechanism 69is placed within the tubular throat 62 and then rotated into its lockposition, as previously explained, the notch 81 provided in the annularflange of the stopper body 70 cooperates with the crank 88 so as toeifect rotation of the shaft 77 and the consequent transmission ofmotion via the plunger 79 to the throat switch 53 operating the throatswitch 53 into its closed position. Of course, a reverse action isobtained upon rotation of the mechanism 69 into its remove positionpreceding physical removal thereof from the tubular throat 62. Thus, itwill be understood that the throat switch 53 is selectively operated inresponse to selective operation of the mechanism 69 into and out of itslock position.

In the lower portion of the upper casing section 61 in the bottom of thechamber 68, there is disposed a shredding or comminuting ring 82 thatcooperates with a number of hammers 83 carried by a flywheel 84 arrangedin the bottom of the chamber 68; which flywheel 84 is carried by theoperating shaft of an electric drive motor housed in the lower casingsection 68 (the drive motor being indicated at 85 in Fig. 6). Theextreme lower portion of the chamber 68 terminates in a discharge tube86; and it is, in fact, this discharge tube 86 that is connected to thetrap 59, as indicated in Fig. l. A side inlet tube 87 is arranged in anopening provided in the upper casing section 61; and it is, in fact, theouter end of this inlet tube 87 that is connected to the conduit 56, asindicated in Fig. 1. In the arrangement the inner end of the inlet tube87 communicates with the chamber 68 at a 6 position well below thetubular throat 62 and well above the comminuting ring 82.

Also the pump flow switch 54 is mounted upon the top of the lower casingsection. 60 and is provided with a tube 88 that communicates with theinterior of the inlet tube 87. As indicated in Fig. 4, the inner end ofthe inlet tube 87 terminates in a restricted nozzle 89 communicatingwith the chamber 68 so that when water from the dishwasher vat 19 ispumped through the con In view of the foregoing, it will be understoodthat when the disposer motor is operated, the flywheel 84 is rotated,causing the hammers 83 to move outwardly closely adjacent to theshredding ring 82 for the purpose of shredding or comminuting any foodwaste that has been deposited in the chamber 68; whereby the resultingmaterial is discharged alongwith any water contained in the chamber 68to the exterior via the discharge tube 86 and ultimately into the drainpipe 48. Further, it

will be appreciated that water may be conducted into the chamber 68either from the sink 15, with the mechanism 69 in its open position, orfrom the dishwasher vat 19 via the side inlet tube 87, incident tooperation of the drain pump 29; and in this regard, it is mentioned thatit is contemplated that the disposer 16 will be operated only when wateris supplied to the chamber 6 8 from one of the sources mentioned, as theWater supplied to the chamber 68 effects the flushing of the shredded orcomminuted food waste from the bottom of the chamber 68via the outlettube 86 to the exterior.

Considering now the control circuit for the disposer 16 and for thedishwasher 18 and referring again toFig. 6, it is notedthat thearrangement comprises a source of 118- volts A. 0., including twoconductors 91 and 92; the.

conductor 91 is commonly connected to one contact of the pairoperatively associated with the bridging member 50' and to one terminalof the door switch 36; while the conductor 92 is commonly connected tooneterminal of the disposer motor 85, to one terminal of the dishwashermotor 23, to one terminal of the solenoid 28a, to one terminal of thetimer motor 38, to one terminal of the pilot lamp 35, to one terminal ofthe heater 24, and to one terminal of the pump motor 31. The othercontact of the pair operatively associated with the contact bridgingmember 50 is connected to a conductor 93 that is terminated by onecontact of the backsplash switch 52; the other contact of the backsplashswitch 52 is connected to a conductor 94 that is terminated by onecontact of the throat switch 53; and the other contact of the throatswitch 53 is connected by a conductor 95 to the other terminal of thedisposer motor 85. The other contact of the. door switch 36 is connectedto a conductor 96 that is commonly terminated by the left-hand spring ofthe set 52, by the left-hand spring of the set S4 and by the left-handspring of the set S6. The other terminal of the dishwasher motor 23 isconnected to a conductor 97 that is commonly terminated by one terminalof the winding of the relay 32 and by the right-hand spring of the setS4. Theother terminal of the solenoid 28a is connected to a conductor 98that is terminated by one contact of the pair operatively associatedwith the bridging member 32a. The other contact of the pair operativelyassociated with the bridging member 32a is connected to a conductor 99that is termi-- one contact of the pair operatively associated with thebridging member 57, and the other contact of this pair is connected to aconductor 101 that is terminated by the right-hand spring of the set S7.The other terminal of thewinding, ofthe relay 32 is connected to aconductor 2, th at is terminated by the right-hand spring of the set $1;the other terminal of the heater 24 is connected toa conductor 103 thatis terminated by the right-hand spring of the set "S5; the otherterminal of the timer motor 38 is connected to a conductor 104 that iscommonly terminated by the left-hand spring of the set S1, by theleft-hand spring of the. set S3, by the left-hand spring of the set- S5,by the right-hand spring of the set S6, and by theother terminal of thepilot lamp 35.

In the circuit arrangement: a strap SP1 is indicated in dottecl linesthat may be connected in shunt relation with respect to the faucet flowswitch 49 in the event the last-mentioned switch is omitted from thekitchen apparatus, combination 10. Similarly, a strap SP2 isindicatedinf dotted lines that may be connected in shunt relation withrespect to the .backsplash switch 52 in the event the last-mentionedswitch is omitted from the kitchen .apparatuscombination 10. Similarly,a strap SP3.is indicated in dotted lines that may be connected inrshuntrelation with respect to the throat switch 53 in the event thelast-mentioned switch is omitted from the kitchen apparatus combination10. Similarly, a strap SP4 is indicated in dotted lines that may beconnected in shunt relation with respect to the pump flow switch 54 inthe event the last-mentioned switch is omitted from the kitchenapparatus combination 10. Similarly, a strap SP5 is indicated in dottedlines that may be connected in shunt relation to the set of switchsprings S7 in the event the last-mentioned set is omitted from theprogram controller 33. In other wor ds, the faucet flow switch 49 andthe backsplash switch 52 are really alternative to eachother; and thepump flow switch 54 and the set of switch springs S7 are reallyalternative to each other. Moreover, the throat switch 53 may beeliminated in the event one of the elements 49 or 52 is provided inconjunction with one of the elements 54 and S7. However, for thepurposeof the present description, it will be assumed that all of the elements49, 52, 53 and 54 and S7 are present in the circuit arrangement; wherebyeach of thestraps SP1 to SP5, inclusive, is omitted from the circuitarrangement.

Considering now the normal operation of the disposer 16,-whenthehousewife has food waste that is to be disposed, she removes thestopper-valve mechanism 69, and then deposits the food waste through thetubular throat 62 into the chamber 68, and then returns the stoppervalvemechanism 69 into the tubular throat 62 operating the same into its lockposition and into its open valve position; whereby the throat switch 53is operated into its closed position. Next, the housewife opens the coldwater valve 44 of the faucet 42; whereby the cold water from the coldwater supply pipe 47 passes through the spout45 of the faucet 42 intothe sink and runs through the stopper-valve mechanism 69 in its openposition into the chamber 68; whereby the faucet flow switch 49 isoperated into its closed position. Then the housewife operates-thebacksplash switch 52 into its closed position; whereby an'obviouscircuit is completed for operating the disposer motor 85 so that thedisposer 16 is operated to bring about shredding or comminuting of thefood waste and the consequent flushing of the resulting materialtherefrom and through the drain pipe 48 to the exterior. In order toarrest operation of the disposer motor 85, the backsplash switch 52 maybe manually operated into its open position, or the cold water valve 44of the faucet 42 may be operated into its closed position, or thestopper-valve mechanism 69 may be operated into its remove position;closure of the cold water valve 44 of the faucet 42 effecting operationof the faucet flow switch '49 into its open position,'and operation ofthe stopper-valve mechanism 69 into its remove position efiectingoperation of the throat switch 53 into its open position.

Considering now the operation of the dishwasher 18, the housewife placesthe dishes to be washed and the detergent in the vat 19, with the frontdoor 20 in its open position, in the usual manner, and then closes thefront door 20 so that the door switch 36 is operated into its closedposition. Finally, the dial 34 is operated from its off position intoits on position, whereby an automatic cycle of the dishwasher 18proceeds under the control of the timer motor 38 so that the dial 34 isultimately rotated back into its off position in order to arrest theoperation of the dishwasher 18. More particularly, in the automaticcycle of the dishwasher 18 when the dial 34 is operated into its onposition, the control cams C1, C2, C3, C4, C6 and C7 operate therespective sets of switch springs S1. S2, S3, S4, S6 and S7 into theirclosed positions. Closure of the set of switch springs S4 completes adirect circuit for operating the dishwasher motor 23; closure of thesets of switch springs S1 and S6 prepares an alternative circuit foroperating the dishwasher motor 23 in series relation with the winding ofthe relay 32; closure of the set of switch springs S2 completes acircuit for energizing the solenoid 28a; closure of the sets of switchsprings S6 and S3 completes a circuit for operating the pump motor 31;and closure of the sets of switch springs S6, S3 and S7 prepares acircuit for operating the disposer motor 85. Upon operating thedishwasher motor 23 rotates the impeller 22; however, without effect atthis time. Energizatio-n of the solenoid 28a effects operation of theinlet valve 28 into its open position; whereby water from the hot watersupply pipe 46 is supplied to the spray device 26 and thence sprayeddownwardly into the vat 19 accumulating in the sump and consequently inthe drain conduit 25 and the drain pump 29. Upon operating the pumpmotor 31 drives the drain pump 29, thereby to discharge the water fromthe drain conduit 25 through the drain pump 29 and thence through theconduit 30 into the funnel 55 and via the conduit 56 into the inlet tube87 and ultimately into the chamber 68 of the disposer 16. The passage ofthe water through the inlet tube 87 of the disposer 16 operates the pumpflow switch 54 into its closed position, thereby to prepare a furtherpoint in the previously-mentioned circuit for operating the disposermotor 85. At this time, it may be assumed that the stopper-valvemechanism 69 occupies its normal position in the tubular throat 62 ofthe disposer 16 so that the throat switch 53 occupies its closedposition. In this case, the circuit for operating the disposer motor iscomplete and extends from the line conductor 91 via the door switch 36,the conductor 96, the closed set of switch springs S6, the conductor104, the closed set of switch springs S3, the conductor 100, the closedset of switch springs S7, the conductor 101, the closed contact bridgingmember 57, the conductor 94, the closed throat switch 53, the conductor95 and the disposer motor 85 to the line conductor 92. Accordingly,operation of the disposer motor is initiated whereby any food wastepreviously deposited in the chamber 68 is shredded or comminuted by theoperation of the disposer 16 and the resulting material along with thewater discharged from the vat 19 into the chamber 68 is furtherdischarged therefrom via the drain tube 86 and ultimately into the drainpipe 48 and thence to the exterior.

This operation of the disposer motor 85 in response to the discharge ofwater from the dishwasher vat 19 into the chamber 68 is veryadvantageous in view of the fact that it positively prevents flooding ofthe water from the chamber 68 back through the stopper-valve mechanism69 into the sink 15 in the event there is a previous deposit of foodwaste in the chamber 68 such as substantially to retard the fiow of thewater from the chamber 68 through the drain tube 86. However, it isnoted that initiation of operation of the disposer motor 85 is dependentupon the closed position of the throat switch 53, which,

' in turn, is dependent upon the stopper-valve mechanism 69 occupyingits placed and lock position in the throat 62,

in the manner previously explained; whereby the control circuit is sointerlocked and arranged that there is no danger of initiation operationof the disposer motor 85 in the event the housewife is at the instantdepositing food waste through the open tubular throat 62 into thechamber 68. In other words, the arrangement of the throat switch 53 ininterlocked position in the above described circuit for operating thedisposer motor 85 positively prevents completion of this circuit and theconsequent initiation of operation of the disposer motor 85 at any timethe stoppervalve mechanism 69 is removed from the tubular throat 62 ofthe disposer 16.

Subsequently, in the cycle of the dishwasher 18, the control cams C3 andC7 respectively operate the sets of switch springs S3 and S7 into theiropen positions so as to interrupt the circuit for operating the pumpmotor 31 and the circuit for operating the disposer motor 85, wherebythe discharge of water from the vat 19 is arrested when operation ofgthedrain pump 29 is arrested, and operation of the disposer 16 is arrestedwhen operation of the disposer motor 85 is arrested. Also, at this time,the control cam C4 operates the set of switch springs S4 into its openposition completing the previously mentioned alternative circuit forenergizing the dishwasher motor 23 in series relation with the relay 32;which circuit extends from the line conductor 91 via the door switch 36,the conductor 96, the closed set of switch springs S6, the conductor104, the closed set of switch springs S1, the conductor 102, the windingof the relay 32, the conductor 97 and the dishwasher motor 23 to theline conductor 92. Accordingly, at this time, the operating current forthe dishwasher motor. 23 traverses the winding of the relay 32;

however, the relay 32 is not operated at the moment as it is of themarginal type and since the current mentioned is not excessive. Thus atthis time, the hot water sprayed downwardlyfrom the spray device 26 intothe vat 19 is accumulated-in the sump in cooperating relation with therotating impeller 22, so that the hot water is circulated by theimpeller 22 through the vat 19 and the dishes arranged therein,effecting a first washing step thereof with the contained detergent.Asthe water accumulates in the vat 19, the load imposed upon theimpeller 22 is increased; whereby the current traversing the dishwashermotor 23 and the winding of the relay 32 is increased, so thatultimately when a full charge of washwater is ac cumulated in the vat19, the load imposed upon the impeller 22 is such that the currentmentioned is adequate to effect operation of the relay 32. Uponoperating the relay 32 opens the contact bridging member 32a so as tointerrupt the circuit for energizing the solenoid 28a; whereby the inletvalve 28 is returned into its closed position to cutoff the supply ofhot water to the. spray device 26.

Still subsequently, in the cycle of. the dishwasher 18-,

the control cam C2 operates the set of switch springs S2 into its openposition so as to interrupt a further point in the circuit forenergizing the solenoid 28a of the inlet valve 28; Still subsequently,in the cycle of thedishwasher 18,. the control cams C3, C4and C7reoperate the sets. of switch springs S3, S4 and S7 back into theirclosed positions. Reclosure of the set of switch springs S4 recompletesthe previously mentioned direct circuitfor energizing the dishwashermotor 23 so as to short-circuit the winding of the relay 32 inorcler-tocause the latter relay to restore so as to reclose the contact bridgingmember 32a for the purpose of repreparing the circuit for energizingthesolenoid 28a of the inlet valve 28. Reclosure of the set of switchsprings S3 recompletes the circuit for operating the pump motor 31 sothat the first charge of wash water in the vat 19 is discharged into thedisposer 16, in the manner previously explained; whereby the pump flowswitch 54 is reoperated into its closed position. Reclosure of the setof switch springs S7 and reclosure of the pump flow switch 54recompletes the circuit for operating the disposer motor 85, inthemanner previously explained. At this point, it is mentioned thatafterall of the wash water has been discharged from the vat 19 into thedisposer 16, the flow of water through the inlet tube 87 ceases; wherebythe pump flow switch 54 is automatically operated back into its openposition so as to interrupt the circuit for operating the disposer motorin order to arrest furtheroperation of the disposer 16 at this time.

In the automatic cycle of the dishwasher 18, the dishes arranged in thevat 19 are subjected to the preliminary spray step and to the firstwashing step in the manner described above; and thereafter the dishesare subjected to a second washing step followed by first and secondrinsing steps, that are substantially identical to the first washingstep described above; whereby the last-mentioned steps are not describedin detail in the interest of brevity.

At this time in the automatic cycle of the dishwasher 18, and at theconclusion of the second rinsing step, the sets of switch springs S4 andS6 occupy their closed positions, while the sets of switch springs S1,S2 and S3 occupy their open positions; whereupon the set of switchsprings S5 is operated by the cam C5 into its closed position so as tocomplete a circuit for energizing the heater 24. This circuit extendsfrom the line conductor 91 via the door switch 36, the conductor 96, theclosed set of switch springs S6, the conductor 104, the closed set ofswitch springs S5, the conductor 103 and the heater 24 to the lineconductor 92. Accordingly at this time, heat is generated by the heater24 and the impeller 22 is operated by the operating dishwasher motor 23;whereby hot air is circulated in the vat 19 into drying relation withrespect of the heater 24 continues for the purpose of efiecting staticdrying of the dishes arranged in the vat 19.

Ultimately in the automatic cycle of the dishwasher 18, the programcontroller 33 is returned back into its off position by the timer motor38, in the manner previously explained; whereby the control cams C6 andC5 operate the set of switch springs S6 and S5 into their openpositions. Opening of the set of switch springs S5 deenergizes theheater 24; while opening of the set of switch springs S6 deenergizes thetimer motor 38 and extinguishes the pilot lamp 35 so as to arrestoperation of the program controller 33, while the dial 34 is in its offposition, and so as to indicate to the housewife that the dishwasher 18has completed its automatic cycle.

The details of the automatic cycle of the dishwasher 18 as establishedby the program controller 33 have not been described with particularityas to time durations, as these items are in no way critical and may becon-- ventional.

As previously noted in the primary control circuit for the disposer 16,the faucet flow switch 49 and the backsplash switch 52 are reallyalternative; whereby one of these switches may be omitted and thecorresponding strap SP1 or SP2 employed. Also, in the secondary controlcircuit for the disposer 16, the pump flow switch 54 and the set ofswitch springs S7 are really alternative; whereby one of these elementsmay be omitted and the corresponding strap SP4 or SP5 employed. In theevent, the set of switch springs S7 is omitted and the correspondingstrap SP5 is employed, it will be appreciated that potential isconnected to the conductor 101 at the time potential is connected to theconductor incident to each closure of the set of switch springs S3 andincident to each operation of the pump motor 31; whereby in this case,the flow of water from the vat 19 through the inlet tube 88 effectsclosure of the pump flow switch 54 and the consequent operation of thedisposer motor 85, in the manner previously explained. On the other 1 1hand, in the event the pump flow switch 54 is omitted and thecorresponding strap SP4 is employed, it will be appreciated that theoperation of the disposer motor 85 is fundamentally under the control ofthe set of switch springs S7; whereby the set of switch springs S7 maybe governed either concurrently with the set of switch springs S3 or intime-displacement therewith as desired; whereby the operation of thedisposer motor 85 may be effected simultaneously with that of the pumpmotor 31 or either slightly ahead or slightly behind, as a matter oftime, of the operation of the pump motor 31.

Furthermore, the throat switch 53 may be omitted and the correspondingstrap SP3 employed, in the event the initiation of operation of thedisposer motor 85 while the stopper-valve mechanism 69 occupies itsremoved position is not considered to be particularly objectionable orhazardous; however, as a practical matter, the omission of the throatswitch 53 is not recommended, as it is not considered to be altogethersafe to permit initiation of operation of the disposer motor 85 underthe sole control of the dishwasher 18, and without reference to the sinkmanipulation that may be in progress by the housewife at the time.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided akitchen apparatus combination including a sink, a food waste disposerand a dishwasher, in combination with automatic control circuits,whereby the operation of the disposer may be governed by a manuallycontrolled primary circuit and by an automatically controlled secondarycircuit governed by the operation of the dishwasher.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be thepreferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood thatvarious modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to coverin the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A kitchen apparatus combination comprising a sink provided with adrain opening, a dishwasher including a vat provided with a drainopening, a drain conduit, a disposer including a casing provided with anintake port connected to said sink drain opening and an inlet portconnected to said vat drain opening and a discharge port connected tosaid drain conduit, said intake port accommodating the passagetherethrough of both water and food waste from said sink and throughsaid sink drain opening into said casing, said dishwasher also includingfirst mechanism operative to wash dishes in said vat and secondmechanism operative to discharge water from said vat via said vat drainopening and said inlet port into said casing, said disposer alsoincluding third mechanism operative to comminute food waste deposited insaid casing and to discharge the resulting material and water thereinvia said discharge port into said drain conduit, means including a firstcontrol device for selectively operating said first and second and thirdmechanisms, and additional means including a second control deviceindependent of said first control device for selectively operating saidthird mechanism.

2. The kitchen apparatus combination set forth in claim 1, wherein saidfirst control device comprises a program controller operative through atimed cycle selectively to operate in a predetermined sequence saidfirst and second and third mechanisms.

3. The kitchen apparatus combination set forth in claim 1, wherein saidsecond control device comprises a control switch that is selectivelyoperable by the performance of manual operations selectively to operatesaid third mechanism.

4. A kitchen apparatus combination comprising a sink provided with adrain opening, a guard device cooperating with said drain opening andselectively operable into a removed position unobstructing said drainopening and into a placed position obstructing said drain opening, a

control element operated into a control position in response tooperation of said guard device into its placed position, a dishwasherincluding a vat provided with a drain opening, a drain conduit, adisposer including a casing provided with an intake port connected tosaid sink drain opening and an inlet port connected to said vat drainopening and a discharge port connected to said drain conduit, saidintake port accommodating the passage therethrough of both water andfood waste from said sink and through said sink drain opening into saidcasing, said dishwasher also including first mechanism operative to washdishes in said vat and second mechanism operative to discharge waterfrom said vat via said vat drain opening and said inlet port into saidcasing, said disposer also including third mechanism operative tocomminute food waste deposited in said casing and to discharge theresulting material and water therein via said discharge port into saiddrain conduit, means in cluding a control device for selectivelyoperating said first and second mechanisms, means including said controldevice and governed only in response to operation of said controlelement into its control position for selectively operating said thirdmechanism, and additional manually controllable means for selectivelyoperating said third mechanism.

5. A kitchen apparatus combination comprising a water supply conduit, asink provided with a drain opening, a first valve for selectivelycontrolling the supply of water from said supply conduit to said sink, afirst control element operated into a control position in response toopening of said first valve, a guard device cooperating with said drainopening and selectively operable into a removed position unobstructingsaid drain opening and into a placed position obstructing said drainopening, a second control element operated into a control position inresponse to operation of said guard device into its placed position, adishwasher including a vat provided with a drain opening, a drainconduit, a disposer including a casing provided with an intake portconnected to said sink drain opening and an inlet port connected to saidvat drain opening and a discharge port connected to said drain conduit,said intake port accommodating the passage therethrough of both Waterand food waste from said sink and through said sink drain opening intosaid casing, said dishwasher also including a second valve operative tocontrol the supply of water from said supply conduit to said vat, saiddishwasher further including first mechanism operative to wash dishes insaid vat and second mechanism operative to discharge Water from said vatvia said vat drain opening and said inlet port into said casing, saiddisposer also including third mechanism operative to comminute foodwaste deposited in said casing and to discharge the resulting materialand water therein via said discharge port into said drain conduit, meansincluding a control device for selectively operating said second valveand said first and second mechanisms, means including said controldevice and governed only in response to operation of said second controlelement into its control position for selectively operating said thirdmechanism, and additional means and governcd only in response tooperation of said first control element into its control position forselectively operating said third mechanism.

6. A kitchen apparatus combination comprising a sink provided with adrain opening, a guard device cooperating with said drain opening andselectively operable into a removed position unobstructing said drainopening and into a placed position obstructing said drain opening, acontrol element operated into a control position in response tooperation of said guard device into its placed position, a dishwasherincluding a vat provided with a drain opening, a drain conduit, adisposer including a casing provided with an intake port connected tosaid sink drain opening and an inlet port connected to said vat drainopening and a discharge port connected to said drain conduit, saidintake port accommodating the passage therethroug-h of both water andfood waste from said sink and through said sink drain opening into saidcasing, said dishwasher also including first mechanism operative to washdishes in said vat and second mechanism operative to discharge waterfrom said vat via said vat drain opening and said inlet port into saidcasing, said disposer also including third mechanism operative tocomminute food waste deposited in said casingand to discharge theresulting material and water therein via said discharge port into saiddrain conduit, means in cluding a first control device forselectivelyoperating said first and second mechanisms, means includingsaid first control device and governed only in response to operation ofsaid control elementintoits control position for selectively operatingsaid third mechanism, and additional means including a second controldevice independent of said first control device and also governed onlyin response to operation of said control element into its controlposition for selectively operating said third mechanism.

7. A kitchen apparatus combination comprising a sink provided with adrain opening, a guard-valve device cooperating With said drain openingand selectively operable into a removed position both uuobstructing andopening said drain opening and into afirst place position bothobstructing and opening said drain opening and into a second placedposition both obstructing and closing said drain opening, a controlelement operated into a control position in response to operation ofsaid guardvalve device into either of its first and second placedpositions, a dishwasher including a vat provided with a drain opening, adrain conduit, a disposer including a casing provided with an intakeport connected to said sink drain opening and an inlet port connected tosaid vat drain opening and a discharge port connected to said drainconduit, said intake port accommodating the passage therethrough of bothwater and food waste from said sink and through said sink drain openinginto said casing, said dishwasher also including first mechanismoperative to wash dishes in said vat and second mechanism operative todischarge water from said vat via said vat drain opening and said inletport into said casing, said disposer also including third mechanismoperative to comminute food waste deposited in said casing and todischarge the resulting material and water therein via said dischargeport into said drain conduit, means including a control device forselectively operating said first and second mechanisms, means includingsaid control device and governed only in response to operation of saidcontrol element into its control position for selectively op eratingsaid third mechanism, and additional manually controllable means andalso governed only in response to operation of said control element intoits control position for operating said third mechanism.

8. A kitchen apparatus combination comprising a sink provided with adrain opening, a dishwasher including a vat provided with a drainopening, a drain conduit, a disposer including a casing provided with anintake port connected to said sink drain opening and an inlet portconnected to said vat drain opening and a discharge port connected tosaid drain conduit, said intake port accommodating the passagetherethrough of both water and food Waste from said sink and throughsaid sink drain opening into said casing, said dishwasher also includingfirst mechanism operative to wash dishes in said vat and secondmechanism operative to discharge water from said vat via said vat drainopening and said inlet port into said casing, said disposer alsoincluding third mechanism operative to comminute food waste deposited insaid casing and to discharge the resulting material and water thereinvia said discharge port into said drain conduit, first means including afirst control device for selectively operating said first and secondmechanisms, second means responsive to the discharge 14 of water fromsaid vat via said inlet port into said casing for operating said thirdmechanism, and third means independent of said second means andincluding a second control device for selectively operating said thirdmechanism.

9. The kitchen apparatus combination set forth in claim 8, wherein saidsecond means essentially'comprises a water flow responsive switch.

10. A kitchen apparatus combination comprising a sink provided with adrain opening, a guard device cooperating with said drain opening andselectively operable into a removed position unobstructing; said drainopening and into a placed position obstructing said drain opening, acontrol element'operated into a control position in response tooperation of said guard device into its placed position, a dishwasherincluding a vat provided with a drain opening, a drain conduit, adisposer including a casing provided with an intake port connected tosaid sink drain opening and an inlet port connected to said vat drainopening and a discharge port connected to said drain conduit, saidintake port accommodating the passage therethrough of both water andfood waste from said sink and through said sink drain opening into saidcasing, said dishwasher also including first mechanism operative to washdishes in said vat and second mechanism operative to discharge waterfrom said vat via said vat drain opening and said inlet port into saidcasing, said disposer also including third mechanism operative tocomminute food waste deposited in said casing and to discharge theresulting material and water therein via said discharge port into saiddrain conduit, first means including a first control device forselectively operating said first and second mechanisms, second meansjointly responsive to operation of said control element into its controlposition and to the flow of water via said inlet port into said casingfor operating said third mechanism, and third means independent of saidsecond means and including a second control device and also governedonly in response to operation of said control element into its controlposition for selectively operating said third mechanism.

11. A kitchen apparatus combination comprising a sink, a disposer, afirst connection from said sink to said disposer, stopper-valvemechanism included in said first connection for selectively controllingthe retention of water in said sink and the draining of water from saidsink into said disposer and for accommodating the deposit therethroughof food waste from said sink into said disposer, a dishwasher, a secondconnection from said dishwasher to said disposer, a pump arranged insaid second connection and operative to discharge water therethroughfrom said dishwasher into said disposer, a drain conduit, a thirdconnection from said disposer to said drain conduit, means including afirst control device for selectively operating said dishwasher and saidpump, means including a second control device for selectively operatingsaid disposer to comminute food waste deposited therein and to dischargethe resulting material and Water therein via said third connection intosaid drain conduit, and additional means also including said firstcontrol device for selectively operating said disposer.

12. A kitchen apparatus combination comprising a sink, a disposer, afirst connection from said sink to said disposer, stopper-valvemechanism included in said first connection for selectively controllingthe retention of water in said sink and the draining of water from saidsink into said disposer and for accommodating the deposit therethroughof food Waste from said sink into said disposer, a dishwasher, a secondconnection from said dishwasher to said disposer, a pump arranged insaid second connection and operative to discharge water therethroughfrom said dishwasher into said disposer,

a drain conduit, a third connection from said disposer to said drainconduit, means including a first control device for selectivelyoperating said dishwasher, means including a second control device forselectively operating said disposer to comminute food waste depositedtherein and to discharge the resulting material and water therein viasaid third connection into said drain conduit, and means also includingsaid first control device for simultaneously and selectively operatingsaid disposer and said pump.

13. A kitchen apparatus combination comprising a sink, a disposer, afirst connection from said sink to said disposer, stopper-valvemechanism included in said first connection for selectively controllingthe retention of water in said sink and the draining of water from saidsink into said disposer and for accommodating the deposit therethroughof food waste from said sink into said disposer, a dishwasher, a secondconnection from said dishwasher to said disposer, a pump arranged insaid second connection and operative to discharge water therethroughfrom said dishwasher into said disposer, a drain conduit, a thirdconnection from said disposer to said drain conduit, means including afirst control device for selectively operating said dishwasher, meansincluding a second control device for selectively operating saiddisposer to comminute food waste deposited therein and to discharge theresulting material and water therein via said third connection into saiddrain conduit, and additional means responsive to flow of water throughsaid second connection for operating said disposer.

14. A kitchen apparatus combination comprising a sink, a disposer, afirst connection from said sink to said disposer, a stopper-valvemechanism included in said first connection for selectively controllingthe retention of water in said sink and the draining of water from saidsink into said disposer and for accommodating the deposit therethroughof food waste from said sink into said disposer, a dishwasher, a secondconnection from said dishwasher to said disposer, a pump arranged insaid second connection and operative to discharge water therethroughfrom said dishwasher into said disposer, a drain conduit, a thirdconnection from said disposer to said drain conduit, means including afirst control device for selectively operating said dishwasher and saidpump, means including a second control device for selectively operatingsaid disposer to comminute food waste deposited therein and to dischargethe resulting material and water therein via said third connection intosaid drain conduit, and additional means governed jointly by saidstopper-valve mechanism and by said first control device for selectivelyoperating said disposer.

No references cited.

